India vs Sri Lanka ODIs: All Time Combined Best XI

Pacers (Chaminda Vaas, Zaheer Khan, Lasith Malinga)

The trio of the pace bowling has every right to be in this list as they are the best bowlers for their country by some distance. The new ball attack of Vaas and Zaheer and Malinga as the first change bowler would rarely have given the batsmen a chance to play freely.

Chaminda Vaas, the left arm is the best bowler Sri Lanka have ever produced. He was currently the bowling coach of Sri Lankan Test team in the Test series against India. Vaas has played in humungous 322 ODIs and has scalped 400 wickets with his best being 8/19. Again he has made an impact whenever the two sides (India and Sri Lanka) have faced each other. Sri Lanka cricket need him badly now more than ever and he would do wonders if given an opportunity to mentor their current crop of bowlers.

Zaheer Khan, the best bowler for India, was the nightmare for the left handed batsman. He dismissed Graeme Smith almost every time they faced. Very few must have forgotten the delivery he bowled to Upul Tharanga in the World Cup final in 2011. Tharanga had to play at that delivery which straightened a touch after pitching and went straight to first slip. The legendary fast bowler has picked 282 wickets in 50 over format with his best being 5/42.

Lasith Malinga is still going great guns in this format and he is still the vital cog of their bowling attack. His toe crushing yorkers are bound to take wickets. India have played him so cautiously that even the final of 2011 world cup, Yuvraj played out a maiden over off him in 46th over of the chase. Malinga would surely like to get back to his best in the upcoming ODI series.

12th Man (Mahela Jayawardene)

Unfortunately, this stylish batsman couldn’t make it to the XI but he is the best player for Sri Lanka along with Sangakkara. He has shouldered the responsibility of the Sri Lankan middle order over the years and has done extremely well. A brilliant century against India in the mega finale at Wankhede was the best innings he would have ever played. He made an impact in almost all the bilateral series he played against India.

The aforementioned players are the best players India and Sri Lanka have ever produced. Few greats are still missing but we can only have 11 players in the team and this team would surely win most of the games against any opposition.